Aug 30, 2012

Purse Obsession

That's what Ashton said to me a couple of weeks ago... and she's not wrong. This one is the latest COMPLETED purse (yup, there's already another one in the works!)

I've always liked purses and I have quite a collection of them, but it really didn't get to *obsession* status until this spring! First I saw Rebekah's flower bag when I was visiting in March, and as usual, I had all of the makings for my version of her bag before I left town. (Yeah... lots of trips to town on this one!)

I hadn't even finished that purse when I saw another purse at the UVRMC gift shop (for the bargain price of $240!).

I was obsessed with it too! But I needed to MAKE this one, as well, because there is no way I'm going to spend that much money on a HAND BAG!

This latest one I like to call my Pinterest Purse! (Bet you can't guess where I saw this one!) Again, with the *I've got to make this happy purse!*

I followed all of the links until I finally tracked down the English instructions for this crocheted bag.

There is a correction to the original instructions- “It seems to me there’s a mistake in the English version of the pattern. I’m pretty sure there’s an extra Ch 3 in round 2. I think Round 2 should read: Ch 3, 2 dc, 2 dc through chain, Ch 3, 2 dc through chain, 3 dc, (no Ch 3 here) 2 dc through chain, Ch3, 2 dc through chain, 3 dc, 2 dc through chain, etc…” This was an accurate correction.

I got my yarn online from KnitPicks.com. You also need to know that I'm a rebel and instead of the 5 or 7 rounds suggested for each block in the pattern I did 6! I wanted my purse to be an in-between size. I ordered 5 balls of the Felici Fingering Self Striping Sock yarn and have enough left I could have done the 7-round size block.

As I was working on this I realized that anything small would go right through the holes in the block. So I lined the bag. Do you recognize the lining fabric? It is leftovers from the girls camp aprons.

I cut 4 strips the same size at the block strips, sewed them together and then just edge-stitched/crocheted through the lining around the top of the purse and handles (like the crocheted edge baby blankets and burp cloths.)

Stay tuned for my next purse! Is there a 12-step program for making purses?